Carden Hall Elementary-Jr High

This is a phenomenal school! My son attends Kindergarden at Carden Hall and comes home with a HUGE smile on his face every day. Great values, manners, respect and fabulous education. No fluff, no wasting time, no pretentiousness. I love that it's low-key and not materialistic. He loves the small classes and the individual attention. \r They don't do fancy sales pitches, and they don't have a fancy facility, but that underlies their great value system: focusing on what is really important. Small class sizes, emphasis on education and self-discipline and teamwork. This is an amazing place without the fancy exterior.\r Plus- fabulous Tae Kwon Do and after-school programs! more

My brother and I got into Carden Hall at the Junior Primary Level. It was definitely strict, but a seemingly great curriculum for middle school I was always a great student, rarely got in trouble (only a few times because I did a homework assignment incorrectly). I always got good grades, and had straight A's besides one B (science wasn't my thing). However, my parents were clled in by the principal one day and was told I would be held back. They would nto say why. They admitted I had great grades and a clean record. It was obvious they were suggesting I was held back only because they knew my parents would never allow that- the administration wanted me to be pulled out of school. Between tears, my mother begged for an explanation from a stern and uncomplying principal, who only offered "He doesn't fit in." I had a great amount of friends, however I only played with girls. I am now 20, and after discussing it with my parents, there is no doubt in our minds that I was asked to leave bec more

I went to Carden Hall in the late 60's and early 70's, and now, as a parent, I can say that unequivocally it is the best school I have ever seen. I was not able to send my son there because by that time we lived in Glendale, but if I had it to do over I might have considered moving back just so he could go there. Yes, it is very structured and focused on education, but there is a very healthy social calendar and environment. My parents were poor, as were the parents of about 1/3 of my class-mates. But they scraped every penny together to send me there, and all I can say is, I am grateful they did. If you are considering it, I suggest you research the Carden Method. It's much more than just academics - it's the whole child. If you really want to know, talk to those who graduated from Carden Hall and have become adults. Ask them what they think, and how it prepared them for life. As a young man my perspective was different, but I still knew it was a fantastic school. It is not just for r more

I got accepted into Carden Hall and it was definitely not what I expected. The test to get in was difficult and when I toured the classrooms I got scared. No one was allowed to talk; one girl got yelled at for asking a question that she "should have" known. The principal, my mom, and I toured all of the classes before deciding that Carden Hall was not right for me. This school is good if you want your children to focus only on studies, but from what I experienced, there was no fun. Yes, the school is very expensive, and by NO means am I a rich Newport kid, but it is well-worth the education that you cant get at a public school. Carden Hall is VERY structured and there is not much "wiggle room," so to speak, to change anything. Im sure there are a lot of good things about Carden Hall - I just have not witnessed any. PROS: VERY focused and structured CONS: VERY focused and structured more

An excellent education for your kids, but if they're not a stereotypical Newpoprt Beach rich kid, they're going to have a rough time of it socially. It's a pretty difficult toss-up; which one's more important at a young age? more

That is a pretty bold claim, but Carden Hall is the gold standard to which all other private schools in Orange County, particularly the Carden method schools, aspire. If your son or daughter tests in, there is not a better school out there. more